Four of the applicants are not affiliated with a political party; Carlson and Krapf are Republicans.

The board has 30 days to choose a candidate for the seat. If it does not make a selection, it can request an extension from the court and if it still can’t decide after the extension, a Circuit Court judge will choose.

The seat is available because former Powhatan Supervisor Jim Icenhour’s home was redrawn into the Jamestown District during remapping; Icenhour decided to run for election in his new district and won that seat in November.

Interviews will be held on Dec. 12 at 3:30 p.m. at 101 Mounts Bay Rd in Building F Work Session Room. The interviews will be televised on JCC TV on Cox Cable channel 48 and the county website.

Andy Bradshaw

Bradshaw previously served on the Board of Supervisorsfor six years and served as a board member for the Williamsburg Land Conservancy and Child Development Resources. He is only interested in filling the vacancy until the November 2013 election, according to his application.

“There is not sufficient time to both serve as a Supervisor and campaign in a District in which I am not as well known,” Bradshaw said in an e-mail. “Furthermore, being a candidate for the full term would make it more difficult to overcome the partisanship that has hampered the work of the Board in recent years.”

He is interested in “rural lands, public education and good governance” and says, “If appointed, my only agenda will be good governance.”

Bradshaw is a James City County native and current resident of Toano. He has worked as an attorney in Toano since 1978. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University with degrees in interdepartmental math and science and political science and a graduate of the University Of Virginia School Of Law. Bradshaw is a father of three.

Michael Hipple

Hipple has owned and operated Michael J. Hipple Builder, Inc. since 1988. He is a graduate of Lafayette High School and a vocational-technical carpentry program.

“I have wanted to join the board for some time,” said Hipple in an e-mail. “I feel that at this time in my life I have gained the experience, knowledge and ability to bring people together.”

He is very passionate about several issues in the county but feels very strongly about protecting rural lands from “runaway development.” He wants to see the county return to a “small town atmosphere of communities coming together for the common good.”

Hipple received several local and civic awards such as outstanding service, father of the year and firefighter of the year. He served as the president of the James City Bruton Volunteer Fire Department, president-elect of Toano Kiwanis, and was nominated for a position on the state Health Department sewage handling and disposal appeals review board. He is currently a member of the Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance. Hipple is a father of seven.

“The daily decisions I make in running my own business affect the lives of so many people. Great consideration is involved in every decision I make,” Hipple said in an e-mail. “I take great pride in the needs of each life I touch. My hope is to show the citizens of James City County my abilities as a supervisor and in turn be elected in the next election cycle.”

Melinda Lincoln-Richardson

Lincoln-Richardson holds a doctoral degree in education and communication from George Mason University. She has worked with the U.S. Department of Education, served as ombudsman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as senior policy advisor for the Office of Civil Rights and Liberties. She has taught at University of Oxford, George Mason University, University of Maryland and the College of William and Mary. She currently teaches at Thomas Nelson Community College. Lincoln-Richardson is a published author.

“I have always had a keen interest in politics and a desire to give back to the community by serving in a public office,” Lincoln-Richardson said in an e-mail.

With her background, Lincoln-Richardson thinks she will be an asset to the board.

“By applying my knowledge and experience in program management, organizational leadership and building winning teams, I feel my contribution will be a significant asset to the Board of Supervisors.”

If selected to fill the board vacancy, she hopes to promote strong ties between programs and promote effective communication within the community.

“I plan to become an effective supervisor and provide a sound voice for the community,” she said in an e-mail.

Glenn Carlson

Carlson, a 23-year U.S. Air Force veteran, is currently an analyst with MacAulay Brown, Inc. who holds a Master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

He wants to get more involved locally and filling the seat on the board will show him more of what county government does. He has lived in the county for eight years and has never considered campaigning and isn’t sure if he will run for the seat after the interim term.

In Carlson’s application, he says he has a “consistent and unique ability to work well with people who agree, are not yet decided and those who disagree with [him] on numerous types of issues.”

Richard Krapf

Krapf currently works on the James City County Planning Commission as the Stonehouse representative. Because of redistricting, Krapf now lives in the Powhatan district but will continue to represent the Stonehouse district on the planning commission until his term ends. Krapf does not plan to resign his seat on the commission if he is selected to fill the seat on the board because “Virginia statute allows one member of a planning commission to also be a member of the Board of Supervisors,” Krapf said in an e-mail.

He thinks that his “six years of experience on the planning commission would shorten [his] learning curve for the board.” He said he has “developed working relationships with many of the county staff and department heads and was intimately involved in drafting the 2009 Comprehensive Plan.”

Currently, Krapf does not intend to run for the seat after the interim term.

Steven Ward

Ward founded his business, Eastern Floor Coverings, more than 36 years ago. He is on the Board of Directors of the Gathering of Men, and participates in Orphan Helpers, Kiwanis and Peninsula Home Builders Association, among other organizations. He has two children and three grandchildren.

In his cover letter, Ward said, “The appointed Supervisor may well be the deciding vote for many critical issues throughout 2013. It will require a person who is confident and desires the best for the county and not for self or party interests. I believe I am that candidate.”

Ward does not have experience working in government and said, “Being new to this arena, I will be in for a large learning curve and I’m aware of that.” In his application, Ward said, “Not unlike James City County having to deal with budgets and balances that will affect citizens for years to come, I make important decisions daily that have an impact on my employees and my business. I rely on all information that I can gather, ask relevant questions and render an informed decision.”

Ward has been a resident of James City County for eight years after growing up in neighboring Newport News. He said, “This is home to me and I want the right decisions to be made.”

Ward did not say he plans to run for election for the seat, but if chosen for the interim term, he wants to be sure the job is done – if it takes the interim term, four years or more, Ward said he would see it through to the end. “I’m happy that we live in a country where someone like me…can be considered.”